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<p>[QUOTE="johnmilton, post: 4890611, member: 101855"][ATTACH=full]1180288[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1180289[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b><u>The 1982 Seven Piece Set</u></b> By 1982 the price of copper had reached the point where it cost the mint system more than one cent to produce a cent. To relieve that problem the mint switched from the sold bronze cent, which had been issued since 1864, to a zinc coin with a thin layer of copper, mid way through 1982.</p><p><br /></p><p> The new coins were virtually identical so far as the average citizen was concerned, but coin collectors and dealers jumped on the subtle difference. To add to the fun, it was discovered that there were large and small date varieties issued from the Philadelphia and Denver Mints. Cardboard cards housed in plastic sleeves with openings for the seven varieties of 1982 cents copped up at coin shows at modest prices. Today those sets have faded into the past, but the fact remains that the copper or bronze cent, which had been a staple in the American monetary series since 1793, began to disappear from circulation.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1180290[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1180291[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1180292[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1180293[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><b><u>The 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial Four Piece Cent Set</u></b> In 2009 the U.S. Mint System issued a set of four reverses for the Lincoln cent which celebrated four phases of the Great Emancipator's life. They were birth and early childhood (a log cabin), the formative years (Lincoln studying book, sitting on a log), professional life (Lincoln standing in front of the old Illinois State Capitol in Springfield) and the presidency (the U.S. capitol with its dome under construction). The coins were to be issued sequentially throughout 2009, but an economic recession got in the way. The decreased economic activity reduced the need for new coins, and distribution of the cents was disappointingly slow. Fewer citizens than expected took note of the series.</p><p><br /></p><p> In an effort to make the coins special for collectors, the Proof pieces were struck on bronze planchets instead of the customary copper coated zinc. These four special coins were included in the 2009 Proof sets, both clad and silver, and the Lincoln Coin & Chronicles Set, which included the four Proof cents plus the Lincoln commemorative silver dollar.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1180294[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1180295[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b><u>The Shield Reverse Lincoln Cent, 2010 to date</u></b> In 2010, the mint introduced the Shield Reverse to the Lincoln cent. The design was reminiscent of the tiny shield that had appeared on the reverse of the Indian cent starting in 1860. This device has continued to appear on the reverse of the Lincoln Cent to the present day.</p><p><br /></p><p> Today the cent is an obsolete coin despite the fact that the mint system produces billions of them every year. The coin has no purchasing power and costs more to produce than its face value. About the only use the cent has is to make change for the state sales taxes on purchases. Despite calls to discontinue the cent, the Federal Government has been reluctant to drop it. Recently Canada dropped its cent from production.</p><p><br /></p><p> One can only wonder how much longer the government will issue this venerable representative of our nation's monetary system. My guess is, that the cent will not be made for circulation, but will continue to be issued in Proof and Mint sets, like the Kennedy half dollar. Too many collectors have continued to collect these coins through the years to see it disappear from the American scene completely.</p><p><br /></p><p>** <b><u>Victor D. Brenner</u></b> was born to Jewish parents in Siauliai, Lithuania on June 12, 1871. His birth name was Avigdor David Brenner. He changed his first name to “Victor” after he immigrated to America.</p><p><br /></p><p> Brenner came to America with only a set of engraving tools and the skills his father had taught him. He lived frugally in the New York City area taking work where he could find it.</p><p><br /></p><p> In 1894 he became a full-time employee at the Robert Stoll Company in New York City. He earned enough money to bring more of his family members to America. During this period, he took night school classes at the Cooper Union, a private college located in the East Village area of Manhattan. He taught himself English and French.</p><p><br /></p><p> In 1898 he moved to Paris where is studied under the great medalist, Oscar Roty, at the Académie Julian. He won awards for his work at the 1900 Paris Exposition. Showing great promise, he returned to America where he had no trouble finding customers who paid well for his skill. In 1907, the President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt posed personally for one of his medals. Brenner continued his successful career until his death in 1924.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="johnmilton, post: 4890611, member: 101855"][ATTACH=full]1180288[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1180289[/ATTACH] [B][U]The 1982 Seven Piece Set[/U][/B] By 1982 the price of copper had reached the point where it cost the mint system more than one cent to produce a cent. To relieve that problem the mint switched from the sold bronze cent, which had been issued since 1864, to a zinc coin with a thin layer of copper, mid way through 1982. The new coins were virtually identical so far as the average citizen was concerned, but coin collectors and dealers jumped on the subtle difference. To add to the fun, it was discovered that there were large and small date varieties issued from the Philadelphia and Denver Mints. Cardboard cards housed in plastic sleeves with openings for the seven varieties of 1982 cents copped up at coin shows at modest prices. Today those sets have faded into the past, but the fact remains that the copper or bronze cent, which had been a staple in the American monetary series since 1793, began to disappear from circulation. [ATTACH=full]1180290[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1180291[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1180292[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1180293[/ATTACH] [B][U]The 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial Four Piece Cent Set[/U][/B] In 2009 the U.S. Mint System issued a set of four reverses for the Lincoln cent which celebrated four phases of the Great Emancipator's life. They were birth and early childhood (a log cabin), the formative years (Lincoln studying book, sitting on a log), professional life (Lincoln standing in front of the old Illinois State Capitol in Springfield) and the presidency (the U.S. capitol with its dome under construction). The coins were to be issued sequentially throughout 2009, but an economic recession got in the way. The decreased economic activity reduced the need for new coins, and distribution of the cents was disappointingly slow. Fewer citizens than expected took note of the series. In an effort to make the coins special for collectors, the Proof pieces were struck on bronze planchets instead of the customary copper coated zinc. These four special coins were included in the 2009 Proof sets, both clad and silver, and the Lincoln Coin & Chronicles Set, which included the four Proof cents plus the Lincoln commemorative silver dollar. [ATTACH=full]1180294[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1180295[/ATTACH] [B][U]The Shield Reverse Lincoln Cent, 2010 to date[/U][/B] In 2010, the mint introduced the Shield Reverse to the Lincoln cent. The design was reminiscent of the tiny shield that had appeared on the reverse of the Indian cent starting in 1860. This device has continued to appear on the reverse of the Lincoln Cent to the present day. Today the cent is an obsolete coin despite the fact that the mint system produces billions of them every year. The coin has no purchasing power and costs more to produce than its face value. About the only use the cent has is to make change for the state sales taxes on purchases. Despite calls to discontinue the cent, the Federal Government has been reluctant to drop it. Recently Canada dropped its cent from production. One can only wonder how much longer the government will issue this venerable representative of our nation's monetary system. My guess is, that the cent will not be made for circulation, but will continue to be issued in Proof and Mint sets, like the Kennedy half dollar. Too many collectors have continued to collect these coins through the years to see it disappear from the American scene completely. ** [B][U]Victor D. Brenner[/U][/B] was born to Jewish parents in Siauliai, Lithuania on June 12, 1871. His birth name was Avigdor David Brenner. He changed his first name to “Victor” after he immigrated to America. Brenner came to America with only a set of engraving tools and the skills his father had taught him. He lived frugally in the New York City area taking work where he could find it. In 1894 he became a full-time employee at the Robert Stoll Company in New York City. He earned enough money to bring more of his family members to America. During this period, he took night school classes at the Cooper Union, a private college located in the East Village area of Manhattan. He taught himself English and French. In 1898 he moved to Paris where is studied under the great medalist, Oscar Roty, at the Académie Julian. He won awards for his work at the 1900 Paris Exposition. Showing great promise, he returned to America where he had no trouble finding customers who paid well for his skill. In 1907, the President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt posed personally for one of his medals. Brenner continued his successful career until his death in 1924.[/QUOTE]
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